Electrically operated lock for motor vehicles



Nov. 24, 1936.- J, PENTKA 2,061,978

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May 22, 1935 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eli ATTORNEYS, I

Nov. 24, 1936. PENTKA 2,061,978

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOOK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May 22, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-5 '1 wag Nov. 24, 1936. J. PENTKA 2 ,978

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LQCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May 22, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s ifose vfi Pen/25%:

ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOOK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Joseph P entka, Dickson City, Pa.

Application May 22, 1935, Serial No. 22,849

1 Claim. 70-427) 4 Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the I while the ignition is on or off by simply turning the ignition key untila pointer on the switch barrel points to a legend on the switch housing designating the desired combination.

A further object is to provide novel means for locking and unlocking the doors from outside of the motor vehicle independently of the ignition switch. I i

A further object is to provide novel means for unlocking the doors in case of an emergency such as a weak battery.

A still further object is to provide apparatus of this character which will be substantially .proof against tampering and will be formed of a few simple strong and durable parts which will no easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of con- 4 struction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus and also shows the electric wiring diagram,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the combined ignition and lock controlling switch.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line. 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the switch showing the inscribed dial and pointer.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the switch. Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2. t

Figure '7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 'l--'! of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the switch showing the parts disassembled.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the unlocking key operated switch for operation independently of the ignition and from outside of the vehicle.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the switch shown in Figure 9, with the parts disassembled.

Figure 11 ls a side elevation of the door lock.

\ line |2 l2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l3--l3 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a detail perspective view of the spring catch.

Figure 15 is a detail perspective view of the electrically controlled latch pin lever. 1 Figure 16 is a side elevation of the manu remote control of the lock.

Figure 17 is a cross section taken on ll-l'! of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the connecter for carrying the conductor wires from the car body into the doors.

Figure 19 is a front elevation of one of the connecters.

Figure necter. h

Figure is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 l-'2| of Figure 11 showing the push rod switch of the door lock.

Figure 22 is a detail perspective view of one of the contacts of the push rod operated switch.

Figure 23 is a detail perspective view of the push rod switch lever and contact carried thereby.

Figure 24 is a detailperspective view of a similar lever for dislodging' the spring catch to permit unlocking of the door lock.

Figure 25 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l0 designates the door, II the body, and I2 the door hinges of an automobile or truck. The dash /I3 is provided with an opening M as shown in Figure 2 to receive the housing l5 of the combined ignition and door lock controlling switch forming part of this invention. The housing is provided with a flange l8 which bears against the front face of the dash, and is also provided with a pair of oppositely disposed fingers I! which are pivotally mounted in longitudinal recesses l8 formed in the housing as shown at l9, and are pressed outwardly by springs to wedge against the rear face of the dash and coact with the flange in securing the housingto the dash. q 1

A barrel 2| is rotatablymo'un'ted in the housing and is provided with the usual tumblers 22 which permit rotation of the barrel when the ignition key, not shown, inserted through the key hole 23. The barrel is provided with a retaining flange 24 which bears against the front face of the housing and the flange is equipped iihe line.

j is a front elevation of the other conwith a pointer 28, best shown inzl lgure 4,.which is located above the key hole. The face of the housing flange I8 is inscribed with lege'hds desiginner face of the housing by means of pins 21,-

which are provided with springs 28 that space the disc from the housing and press the disc outwardly into tight contact with a similar disc 28 carried by and rotating integrally as a unit with the barrel 2|.

The disc as is provided axially with a shaft to which is non-rotatably secured to the barrel by' A screw 82 is threaded into means of a pin 8|. v I the shaft and coacts with the above referred to flange 24 of the barrel .in assembling the parts. The shaft is provided withan enlarged cylindrical portion 88 which is rotatably fitted in an axial opening 84 formed in the stationary disc 28.

An arcuate contact plate best shown in Figure 5 is countersunk in the outer face of the disc 28 and the plate is provided with a slot 88 through which aterminal post 21 is loosely fitted and threaded into. the stationary disc -2 8; "The post is provided with ahead 88 which confines a spring 88 against a washer 48 on the'post and forces the washer into tight electrical contact with the plate-88. A distributor post4 lfis passed through the'plate 88 and'disc 28Fand-below the disc is provided with arounded head 42. 1

The stationary disci28 isprovided with an arm-- ate cut-out portion 48 to'receive. the head 42 and to present shoulders 44 which engage'the head and limit rotary movement of the barreldn either direction'to approximately 190 Preferably four switch contacts 48, 48,41and 48 are arranged in a the distributor post-4| engages the ignition com the disc 28 and are provided with screw heads 48 best shown in Figure 3'for attaching conductor wires. As best shown in Figurel the stationary 'post 81 receives thecurrent' from the battery" through conductor wires 8i '}'and' 82 and, passes it on to the plate 88 and post 41 to be distributed selectively to the switch contacts "to 48' inclueither of the controlling handles to open the door.

the pin 84 to enter the notch 88 and prevent j withdrawal of the bolt to open the doors by turning the handles 88 or 88. When the unlocking magnet 18 is energized the armature of the lever will be depressed and the latch pin will be withdrawn from the notch 88 and held clear of the notch so that the bolt 88 may be moved by For conducting the "conductor wires from the car body through the hinged edge of the door and to the lock and the switch, preferably three connecters 11, 18,and 18 are employed. By referring to Figure 25 it will be seen that the locking magnet 14 is connected by a .wire 88 to the switch contact 48 this conductor passing through the connecter 18. The unlocking magnet 18 is connected sive to the ignition and door-flocks by' turning gagesa. lug 81 on the boIt'towithdraw the bolt to unlocked position and permit opening oi thedoor. This 'same operation is also accomplished the ignition key in the direction by'a conductor :wire 8|" to the switch contact 41 this wire passing'through the connecter 11. A conductor wirej82jis connected at one end to the ignition coil 88 meat the opposite end is provided withbr anches 84 and 88 which are connected to the contacts 48 and 48. Thus the two outer contacts 48 and 48 ,are'connected to the ignition and the two inner contacts 48 and "are connected to thelocking and unlocking electromagnets. It can now be seen that when the barrel of the ignition switch is turned clockwise by the keyv the distributor post 4| Willengage with the contact 48 inwhichpositionthe ignition is on and the door unlocked. If howeverthe barrel is turned until boltso that in-this'position of the parts the door will be locked while the ignition is on. Again if from this last position, that is the post 4i in engagement with the contact 48, the barrel be turnedIcounter-clockwise until the post engages with the contact 48 the locking magnet 14 will be energized to lock the door while at the same time the ignition will be off. Continuing the movement in a counter-clockwise direction until the arm passes from the contact 48 to the contact 41 it will-beseen that the unlocking magnet 18 will be energized and the door unlocked while the ignition is still oilf.v Thus it is clear that se- 1 lective'combinations' of locked and unlocked posifrom within the vehicle at .aipoint usually underneath the window, by means-of a handle 88' best shown in Figure 1 which is maintained in released position by a coil spring 88 best shown in Figure 16, which surrounds the crank shaft 88,"

the crank 8| of which is'connectedto a link 82 that is connected to the bolt. v

To look the bolt 88 against withdrawal through the guide 83 a latch pin 84 is slidably mounted in an opening in the guide and extends into a notch 88 formed in the edge of the bolt; the edges of the opening being directed outwardly or flared to provide a guide '88 tofhold the latch pin and guide itduring movement into and out of the notch 88. A lever 81 is pivoted on p. horizontal pivot pin 88 and is provided atone end.

with an offset which. is passedbetw'een hinge eyes 88 on the latch pin and a pivot "connects the lever to the eyes. The free end of the lever tions of the door lock in syn'chronismwith on or off positions of the' ignition, are obtainable by manipulation' of the ignition key.

By referring to Figure 6 it will be seen that the ignition contacts 48 and 48 are concave while the magnetcontacts 48 and 41 have straight contact faces The rounded head 42 of the distributor post'4l thus will drop into and come to rest in the concave contacts while it will merely have wiping contact, with the contacts-48 and 41 as described above.

In Figure 18 the construction of the connecters is shown in detail. The connecters each comprise a spring pressed plunger 88 confined in a housing 81 carried by'the' door, the plunger bearing against a screw contact 88 carried by the body ll of the vehicle. A faceplate 88 of insulating material is countersunk in the body and mounts the screw contacts 88 while a similar plate or insulating material is countersunk in the edge of the door. and mounts thehousings of the connecters. The plates are secured in position by suitable wood screws 9| and 92. A cover plate 93 for each plunger housing is secured tothe insulating strip by screws94. The housing is provided with a screw 95 to receive the conductor wire while the mating screw contact 88 is pro- .vided with ahub 96 which receives a screw 91 to attach the conductor wire.

For unlocking the door of the vehicle from the exterior of the vehicle an unlocking key operated switch is provided. The switch is similar in construction to the ignition switch with the exception that there is only one contact for the distributor post to engage and operate the unlocking magnet. As best shown in Figures 9 and 10 the housing 98 of the switch is provided with a flange 90 and opposed spring pressed fingers I00 tosepins I02.

cure the housing to the door jamb or other part of the door or body. A stationary disc IOI of insulating material is secured to the housing by Springs I03 surround the pins and force the disc outwardly from the housing to make tight contact with a rotary disc I04 of insulating material carried by a shaft I05 which is rigidly secured at one end to the barrel I06 of the switch.

A pin, I01 is threaded into the stationary disc IOI and is provided with a nut I08 for attaching the conductor wire I09 leading from the bat-' tery 50. The pin passes through a slot I I 0 formed in an arcuate plate III which is secured in a countersink in the outer face of the disc by means of a screw II2. Theplate conducts the current from the pin to a distributing post II3 which is secured atone end of the slot IIO by means of a nut II4, the opposite end of the post having a rounded head II5 adapted to have wiping contact with a switch contact I I6 carried by the stationary disc IN. This switch contact is connected by a conductor wire II1 to the unlocking magnet 15 as shown in Figures 1 and 25. It is now clear that when the key is inserted in the barrel and the barrel rotated to bring the distributor post. II3 into contact with the switch contact 6 the current willilow from-the battery through the wire I09, distributor post I I3, switch contact H6, and wire I I1 through the connecter 11 and energize the unlocking magnet 15 to pull the lever 61 downwardly and withdraw the latch pin from the bolt. Thereupon the bolt may be operated by, the handle in the'usual manner to aiford access to'the vehicle.

Q .deenergized. Converselywhen the lever is at- By referring to Figures 14 and '15 it will be-seen that the magnetoperatediever 61 is provided with a triangular shaped tooth H8. Alea'fspring I I0 is secured to the side of the'lock'casing I20 tracted-by. the unlocking magnet 15 the tooth 8 will 'lodge' below the tooth I2I on the. spring and hold the latch pin 64 released from the bolt after vflue magnet becomes ,deenergized.

Thus operation of the lock is efiected with minimum drain on the battery.

For locking the door from the exterior of the car independently of the ignition switch, I provide a push rod I22 best shown in Figures 21 and 23.

The push rod enters the outer side of the lockthousing I20 and is pivotaliy connected to a lever I23 which carries an upstanding switch contact I 24 which confronts and is adapted to bridge a stationary. switch contact I25 carried by an insulating bracket I20 on the housing I20 as best shown in Figure 22. The lever-is mounted on a vertical pivot I21 and the free end I28 of the lever overlaps the leaf spring II9 for a purpose-which will be presently explained. The push rod I22 is connected to the lever by means of a pivot pin I29 which may swivel on the lever. A pair of helical springs I30 are confinedbetween the lever and the wall of the housing and normally hold the lever in position to maintain the switch contacts I24 and I25 spaced apart. One of the switch contacts I25 is connected by a conductor wire I30 to the locking magnet 14 while the other contact is connected by a wire I3I to the feed wire 5| from the battery, this wire I3I passing through the uppermost connecter 13as best shown in Figure 25.

When the vehicle is to be locked from the outside it is simply necessary to push the push rod I22 until the switch contacts I24 and I25 are closed whereupon current will flow from the battery through the wire 5 I, wire I3 I, switch contacts I25 and I24 and wire I30 to the locking magnet 14. Themagnet lifts the lever 61 to insert the latch pin in the notch in the bolt. As above described tooth II'8 rides over and lodges above the tooth I2I on the leaf spring so that upon release of the push button the lever will be held at this upper limit of movement when the magnet becomes deenergized.

In the event of a battery so run down or weak as to be incapable of energizing the unlocking magnet 15 suflicientiy to pull down' lever 6.1

against the friction of the teeth H0 and I2I. the

operated unlocking switch must. be employed to. direct current through the unlocking magnet 15.

before the lever 61will be attracted to'withdraw the latch pin from the locking bolt. Even a very slight current will. energize the magnet sufiicient to perform its function once the teeth H8 and I2I have been dislodged.

type is employed to lock the door independently of the push. rod. This ,push button switch i's indicatedin general by the numeral I32 and while it is shown-asbeing located on the door-jamb in e 1 it may be located at any desirable part 18 of thecart (The push button. is connected to the feed wire 5| by/a wire I33 and is connected to the locking magnet 14 by a wire I34. Wfnen the button is pushed current will flow from the battery through the wire5l wire I33'button I32 wire I34 to the locking magnet "to move the latch pin into the notch in the bolt 53.

It will be ob erved that all of the doors of a. vehicle maybe quipped with magnets controlling a latch pin as above described and that .the lock of .oneof the doors, for instance one of the front doors, may be used as a master lock and the wires 80 and 81 connected by wires I35 and I36, shown inFigure 25, to the other locks for operating either the locking magnet 14 or the unlocking magnet 15 in synchronism throughout all the I. An additional switch, preferably of the button doors when either the ignition switch is in operation or the key operated unlocking switch or the push rod operated switch, is in operation.

It is not necessary to equip any other lock except the master lock with the push rod operated switch above described since it will be obvious that a single lever I31 best shown in Figure 24 may be mounted in each lock other than the master lock to depress'the spring H9 and free'the lever 81 as above described. It the key has been inserted in the key operated switch and this switch turned prior to operatingithe push rod I38 01 the lever I31, the unlocking magnet will be energized to attract the lever 81 and withdraw the latch pin as above described.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation 01 my invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is: A selective control for motor vehicles comprising an ignition device, an electrically operated door lock, conductors electrically connected to the ignition device and the lock, an ignition switch controlling flow of current through the conductors and comprising a rotary barrel and a housin juxtaposed discs of insulating material carried by the barrel and housing respectively, and a plurality of switch contacts carried by the discs ,etiecting seleotive'combinaticns of locked and unlocked positions of the door lock when the ignition is on and lockedposition of the lock during oi'l position of the ignition device.

JOSEPH PEN'I'KA. 

